• (1) The public has shown little interest in HD Radio. HD Radio was the biggest radio advertiser in 2007 and roughly 350,000 units were sold. By comparison, Sirius added over 900,000 in Q4 of 2006 alone, with a far less advertising support. At the rate HD Radio was adopted in 2007, it would take over 15 years to equal the current critical mass of Satellite radio.

• (2) There is no apparent revenue model for HD Radio. How many HD radios would have been sold if the channels included advertising? Well, certainly not more.

• (3) The Radio industry is embarrassing itself with its public support for HD Radio. Whether perceived as backing a loser or profoundly ineffective as an advertising vehicle, Radio isn’t representing itself well as a marketing vehicle or partner with its public support for this failing product.»

fonte: by Bob Bellin Guest editorial: Consumers, Wall Street not buying HD RAIN 15/02/08

fonte: «Groups Implement iTunes Tagging», Radio World, 05/10/07

«HD Radio is now available nationwide as a dealer-installed option on nearly every 2008 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicle, making Ford Motor Co. the first U.S. automaker to commit to HD Radio. Dealers are also offering HD installation in most used and currently owned 2005, 2006, and 2007 vehicles.
"Drivers have always had a love affair with their car radios," said Kim Irwin, Manager/Vehicle Personalization & Accessories for Ford's Customer Service Division. "HD Radio offers our dealers a triple threat: It differentiates their offerings from other brands, it lets them upgrade customer entertainment systems in a unique way, and it lets buyers of recent pre-owned vehicles, as well as current vehicle owners, share completely in the benefits. This is the kind of program that our dealers love to see."
Ford will support the HD Radio launch with a 13-week, multimillion-dollar radio campaign in partnership with the HD Radio Digital Alliance. The commercials are set to start airing September 26 on about 700 radio stations in 100 markets.
BMW in 2005 began offering HD Radio as a factory-installed option with its 2006 model-year vehicles.»

fonte: «Ford Now Offering HD Radio», Radio Ink, 26/9/07

The station announced the changes on-air Monday. Station GM Caryn Mathes stated it was “time to begin treating HD Radio multicasting as ‘real’ radio. HD Radio is becoming eminently accessible to the general consumer, and we believe it is the future of terrestrial radio.”»

fonte: «WAMU Multicasting Gets ‘Real’ With Planned HD3 Launch, Receiver Giveaways, Leslie Report/Radio World, by Leslie Stimson, 9.05.2007

«Clear Channel Radio has begun transmitting traffic data using HD (high definition) Radio technology in 48 of the largest markets in the United States. "HD Radio is the future for broadcast data delivery, allowing us to not only deliver traffic data, but provide additional services as well," says Jeff Littlejohn, Clear Channel Radio executive vice president of distribution development. In addition, Clear Channel Radio has extended the reach of its real-time traffic data service -- RDS-TMC (Radio Data System Traffic Message Channel) -- to 19 new markets, including Albuquerque, N.M.; Birmingham, Ala.; and Montreal, Canada. Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network is now available in 68 cities, and the company plans to add more markets throughout 2007. "With the addition of these 19 markets, we cover over 160 million people with our traffic service for consumer devices," Littlejohn says. Clear Channel Radio's Total Traffic Network currently provides real-time traffic information to devices made by Garmin, TomTom, Mio-Mitac, Delphi, Kenwood, Clarion, Navigon, Cobra Electronics and Siemens VDO and supplies traffic content to several media outlets -- including Citadel Broadcasting, Univision, Fox Interactive Media, and others.»

fonte: «Clear Channel Radio expanding traffic data services», San Antonio Business Journal, July 9, 2007

diz a Business Week:

«Five years after winning FCC approval, HD (hybrid digital) Radio is still a mystery to most consumers. Pricey HD receivers, most of which cost upward of 0, have caused many potential listeners to tune out—despite the support of major broadcasters including Clear Channel Communications (CCU), who have boosted the quality of existing stations by using analog-digital transmitters and created hundreds of HD subchannels. In a survey released May 23, radio researcher Bridge Data estimates there are only 450,000 weekly listeners of HD Radio—compared with 15 million satellite subscribers and 57 million Internet radio listeners. (About 93.5% of all Americans tune into traditional radio every week.) "A majority of Americans are now aware of the term HD Radio. But fewer than 5% of them understand what it is, what is the benefit," says Dave Van Dyke, CEO of Bridge Data. Still, 40% of respondents expect to listen to HD Radio more frequently in a year.» (fonte: «Trying to Figure Out HD Radio», Douglas Macmillan, 29/5/07, Business Week)

Um numero importante nos EUA:

«The HD Digital Radio Alliance, a joint initiative of leading radio broadcasters to accelerate consumer adoption of HD Digital Radio, today celebrated a major milestone in the rollout of HD2 multicast formats with the addition of 15 new markets, completing the rollout in the top 100 markets. The achievement of such a significant number of markets underscores the vision and dedication that it took for HD Digital Radio to reach the nation's top 100 markets in less than 18 months.

The momentum of the rollout has been unprecedented, making the achievement of the top 100 markets all the more significant. The top U.S. radio broadcasters came together in December 2005 to form the HD Digital Radio Alliance in part to oversee the market-by-market HD2 format selections in the top 100 markets. Since that time, radio has morphed into a digital music force propelling a massive infusion of new and eclectic content on local radio stations by Alliance-member broadcasters - all in crystal-clear digital sound with no subscription fee. The result has been a lifestyle transformation for consumers and a powerful spur to retailers, device manufacturers and automakers to catch the consumer phenom that is HD Digital Radio. Now, in a development representing no small feat, the milestone of the top 100 markets has been reached. (...)»

fonte: «HD Radio Celebrates Major Milestone: Rollout in Top 100 Markets», PR Newswire, Maio 07

«(...) HD Radio has so far failed to win over U.S. carmakers. Only Hyundai, BMW, and Jaguar plan to offer HD Radio, and officials from GM and Chrysler Group said they were not rushing to commit to the devices, which would cost the struggling Big Three U.S. automakers as much as an estimated 0 million annually to install.  "We're investigating HD radio and we'll probably make a decision in six months. When you add up the cost, it's a lot of money," said Michael Kane, director of technology strategy for Chrysler, told Reuters.  The radios are estimated to cost each of the three carmakers about 0 million to 0 million annually.  HD Radio promises to deliver better sound quality than traditional analog radio and enables stations to broadcast multiple channels. More than a tenth of the estimated 12,000-plus U.S. radio stations have upgraded to the technology, including many in the country's top 100 markets. "I don't think there are too many American carmakers jumping on this. It's a fairly expensive proposition to put that technology in a vehicle and there's no certainty around the revenues associated with it," said Rick Lee, executive director of competeing satellite radio services for GM unit OnStar. (...)»

fonte: «Automakers Still Not Tuned-in To HD Radio» The AutoChannel, 27/04/07

«La adopción en México del estándar digital estadounidense IBOC (In Band on Channel ), conocido comercialmente como HD Radio, en aquellas emisoras que se ubican en la franja de 100 kilómetros a lo largo de la frontera común con Estados Unidos, puede cumplir esa exigencia. Durante el acto organizado por la Comisión Federal de Telecomunicaciones (Cofetel) la semana pasada, el comisionado y ex senador priísta Ernesto Gil Elorduy anunció que las transmisiones de IBOC serán, por lo pronto, "voluntarias" y sólo las podrán llevar a cabo las emisoras fronterizas, tanto concesionadas como permisionadas. (...) El anuncio de la Cofetel se hace a más de una década que la Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Radio y Televisión (CIRT) entrara de lleno al tema y se pronunciara, desde entonces, a favor de otro de los estándares: el europeo Eureka 147, un sistema cuya característica más importante es la posibilidad de ofrecer una mayor cantidad de servicios adicionales convergentes, independientemente de transmitir con sonido calidad de disco compacto. No obstante los beneficios del estándar europeo, los radiodifusores de la frontera norte -algunos de ellos ligados estrechamente a los intereses de la radio estadounidense- se opusieron al estándar Eureka 147 porque consideran que con la adopción de una tecnología diferente a la del país vecino se pondría en riesgo la viabilidad económica de sus emisoras, que atienden a la población hispana y al cada vez más creciente número de empresas que dirigen su publicidad hacia ese sector de la población en Estados Unidos. »

fonte: «Refrendos automáticos en la radio », 24/04/07, Etecetera.com

«'Welcome to New Radio. It Stinks Just Like Old Radio'».

È só publicidade...

«The problem for the broadcasters, who continue to see their audience become fragmented and struggle to boost ad revenues, is that HD radio "is not a new offering. It's a defensive move," says Ted Schadler, an analyst with Forrester Research (FORR). "It's better radio, but it's not a whole lot better radio." He calls it a replacement product and likens it to the transition from black-and-white to color TVs.»

fonte: Business Week on HD, 29/01/07, Orbicast 

«(...) Do You know what HD or High Definition Radio is or what it does? - this question in syntactically incorrect. The fact is, the "HD" in "HD Radio" doesn't stand for "high-definition" as it's television brethren does. As Peter Ferrera, president and CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance said, "Quite honestly, it [HD Radio] doesn't stand for anything. The concept was somewhat of a steal from HD television, where viewers know it means better quality"»

fonte: «Study: HD Radio Sales Estimate Reduced», Orbicast, 18/01/07

«(...) is this the year that HD Radio will take off in the United States? Because the U.S. radio spectrum is crowded and certain parts of it are reserved for the military, HD Radio piggybacks digital signals onto existing analog AM or FM signals rather than transmitting them over a different part of the spectrum, as is the case in the United Kingdom. But in both countries, digital radio technology delivers better sound quality than analog radio, and offers more variety and a host of special features. And, unlike satellite radio, there are no subscription fees, only the cost of buying a digital receiver. In the United Kingdom, more than 4.7 million digital radios have been sold since 1999. Listeners browse station listings in an electronic program guide, pause and rewind content as it's broadcast, bookmark specific programs or songs, and record them using postage-stamp-size memory cards. And starting in May, they can buy songs as they hear them on the radio, downloading them to computers, digital receivers or cell phones. "Consumers are no longer interested in a box that spits out content on a certain schedule," says Simon Cole, CEO of UBC Media, a U.K. company that provides technology services to radio stations. "Digital radio is delivering features that excite listeners." But in the United States? Not so much. Slightly more than 1,000 U.S. stations now broadcast in HD Radio, according to iBiquity Digital, the company that created the technology behind digital radio in the United States. But none yet offer the features available in the United Kingdom. Instead, they use the additional frequencies HD Radio technology provides to offer new channels of content called "multicasts." Top 40 station WNKS, for example, simulcasts its main analog signal on one of its HD Radio frequencies, and multicasts a Christian format on the other. "Multicasting is HD Radio's initial value proposition, but it's just a first step," says iBiquity CEO Bob Struble. Struble envisions HD Radio eventually delivering scrolling-text news and traffic updates, integrating with car navigation systems, and offering on-demand song downloads. And the new partnership between Clear Channel and Microsoft will create a national data service called MSN Direct HD that delivers localized, personalized content to home and car HD Radio receivers. HD Radio receiver sales reached the "low hundred thousands" in 2006, a significant jump from 2005, but miniscule next to XM's and Sirius' more than 13.5 million satellite radio subscribers. Part of the reason is political. While the U.K. government -- which controls much of the country's broadcasting industry -- was able to influence a national shift to digital, for-profit U.S. broadcasters were hesitant to embrace the unproven and expensive technology until satellite radio emerged as a competitive threat. (IBiquity estimates it costs ,000 to 0,000 to upgrade a radio station to HD Radio.) (...) Cole has watched digital radio take off in the United Kingdom, and believes it's only a matter of time before the same thing happens in the United States. "Three years ago I walked into (London department store) John Lewis and watched consumers completely ignore the tiny selection of digital radios for sale," he recalls. "This year I walked in, and couldn't find an analog radio. Digital was all they offered."»

fonte: Wired News, «Will Digital Radio Boom in U.S.?», Dave Demerjian, Jan, 18, 2007

Mas os estudos dizem que o interesse cresce:

«In June 2006, Bridge Ratings conducted a study of radio consumers to gauge their awareness of, and interest in. HD Radio. At that time, 62% of the sample were aware of the term "HD Radio." In their just-released study, that number has increased to 72%.
Awareness of the new, HD medium has increased significantly in all quadrants. The overall number is higher when the month of December only is taken into consideration when 80% of those questioned had heard of HD Radio. A positive sign that the industry's marketing efforts to raise awareness have worked. (...) Conclusions: Improved product reviews of HD radio will aid positive brand awareness and interest, while the marketing of HD Radio by the radio industry must greatly improved. While overall awareness of the term "HD Radio" has increased in the last year, there is considerable confusion, misinformation or total lack of understanding as to what HD Radio is or what its benefits are to the consumer. This, they feel, is one of the greatest challenges to the growth of HD Radio.
The complete study results are available at: http://www.bridgeratings.com under “What’s New.”» (fonte: Radio Ink, «Bridge Ratings Updates HD Radio Projections», 18/01/07)
 

Etiquetas: DAB

«Clear Channel Radio and Microsoft Corp. announced on Monday at the International Consumer Electronics Show 2007 that they have partnered to build a nationwide data delivery service using HD Radio technology, providing personalized and localized content to a variety of HD Radio receivers.
This initiative will be branded MSN Direct HD, an extension of Microsoft's existing MSN Direct service, which currently transmits information including traffic, weather, movie times, sports, and stocks to Smart Watches, weather stations, GPS navigation devices and small home appliances. Field tests of the data delivery service will be conducted with the support of iBiquity Digital Corporation, the developer and licensor of HD Radio Technology.
(...)Clear Channel Radio is currently offering HD digital radio primary broadcasts on more than 340 of its radio stations across the country of which two thirds are supplying additional audio content via HD Radio multicasting.
“Microsoft’s Spot initiative has illustrated their ability to turn personal objects into mobile tools with this impressive platform,” said Jeff Littlejohn, executive vice president, Distribution and Development for Clear Channel Radio. “Combining Microsoft’s existing technology and customer service background with Clear Channel’s unprecedented HD Radio delivery platform will provide customers with a world class data service.” »

fonte: «Clear Channel Partners With MSN For HD Data Application» Radio Ink, 9/01/07

Etiquetas: Microsoft, ClearChannel

«The Canadian Radio-Television & Telecommunications Commission has announced a revision to its policy for digital radio broadcasting, opening the door to the HD Radio In-Channel, On-Band system.

The CRTC commented that it would be prepared to authorize services using IBOC/HD Radio technology for the AM and/or FM bands, if the Canadian department of Industry authorizes services using the technology under the Radiocommunication Act. The commission added that “an expedited process would be adopted for stations that propose to transmit a digital simulcast of their analog service.”

Robert Struble, president and CEO, iBiquity Digital Corporation, said, “The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation began HD Radio testing in September 2006, focusing on transmissions from Toronto and Peterborough, Ontario. Full results have not yet been published by the CBC, but early feedback has been very positive.”»

fonte: «Ruling Opens Door For HD Radio Broadcasting In Canada» Radio Ink, Dezembro 06, 

«The Eureka DAB system, using L-band frequencies, didn't work out as hoped in Canada, so now it looks like our neighbors to the north may embrace the HD Radio in-band on-channel (IBOC) system already deployed in the US. (...) even if L-band digital had worked better (the number of repeaters proved to be prohibitively expensive), a considerable Canadian market would have developed for add-on HD Radio receivers for folks who regularly drive across the border. It should be better for both countries for the US to have the same digital radio system as our neighbor, even if they do insist on spelling it "neighbour."» (RBRnews, 28/12/06)  

Etiquetas: DAB

«BMW was the first to offer an OEM HD Radio on its 2006 7-series models. They added it to the 6-series in '06, and then announced that HD Radio would appear on the 5-series models in '07. Well, that group will soon include BMW 3-series owners as well. Starting with the Hardtop Convertible, HD will start showing up in 3s in 2007 as well, for around 0. »

fonte: «BMW 3-series to come equipped with HD radio?», Posted Dec 23rd 2006 4:14PM by Frank Filipponio, AUtoblog

Mas primeiro não será necessário isto?

«STMicroelectronics and Ibiquity Digital have an agreement to design an HD Radio ASIC chip compatible with ST’s AM/FM in-dash tuner. The goal is to provide receiver manufacturers a complete HD Radio chipset, with samples expected in late 2007 and volume production in 2008. The companies say the chipset would offer high system integration and low power consumption, and enable extended features, such as multicast capability and extended data services.»

fonte: «STMicroelectronics, Ibiquity Developing In-Car Receiver Chipset», 21/12/06, Rwonline

Etiquetas: carro

O estratega Mark Ramsey prossegue a sua campanha em defesa dos conteúdos, por oposição à importância das plataformas.

Enquanto muitos defendem que o HD não se desenvolve porque há poucos receptores, porque são caros e porque a tecnologia exige um novo receptor, Ramsey tem uma visão diferente: se os conteúdos oferecidos fizessem a diferença as pessoas pagariam esse preço elevado, comprariam novos receptores e até fariam filas para os adquirirem. Exemplo: a playstation... «For example, if you wanted to be first to own a Sony PlayStation 3 game system, you waited on line for three days for the chance to spend 0 on one of these babies when the doors opened at Best Buy last Friday. And you did it gladly. No discounts required.» («Are you waiting in line for your HD radio?, 20/11/06)

(se os canais HD1 retransmitem em muitos casos os conteudos analogicos, FM ou AM, os HD2 são a verdadeira alternativa)

«Greater Media's HD-1 channels air the same thing as the analog channels of its stations. The difference is the HD-1 channels broadcast CD-quality audio. With its HD-2 channels, or "side channels," the company is experimenting with more creative programming, Knight said. One of the company's HD-2 stations in Detroit, for instance, plays music from independent bands that are just getting started on the music scene. (...) With WXKS, or Kiss 108, the company plays top-40 songs on its analog and HD-1 station. With it's HD-2 station, Clear Channel is experimenting with 30 minutes to an hour of songs from one artist and also features interviews with the artists, Littlejohn said. "The most interesting thing about these HD-2 channels is they give us the opportunity to experiment with our content where we wouldn't normally take those risks with our primary channels," he said. "With HD Radio, our primary goal is to retain the listeners we have for a longer period of time." Littlejohn said 94 percent of the American population over the age of 12 listens to the radio for an average 19.5 hours a week. The goal of HD Radio, as satellite radio and other ways to listen to music become increasingly popular, is to increase the listening time to an average 25 hours a week, or more. But the company is looking to provide audio content to listeners, "whatever way they want it," Littlejohn said, whether in MP3 format, podcasts or via traditional or HD Radio. Leading into the holiday season, the consortium's ads will promote HD Radio devices in Circuit City and RadioShack stores as well as other retailers. Nine companies, including Boston Acoustics and Cambridge SoundWorks, sell 16 different models of HD Radio tuner devices that can play multiple HD channels.»

fonte: «HD Digital Radio Alliance readies promos», By Andrew J. Manuse/ Daily News Staff, Metro West Daily News, Sunday, November 12, 2006

Etiquetas: HD, Clear, Channel, HD1, HD2

Eis algumas reflexões que resultam da digitalização do espectro pelo HD:

- «many are still fearful of serious interference fallout when AM HD is widely deployed full-time»

- «Ibiquity has long maintained that any perceived nighttime HD Radio interference to stations from strong adjacent channels is not going to be a big deal»

- «Many respected engineers have long observed the AM band is already a disaster at night, choked with noise, interference and colliding signal wreckage on most channels. Only a few signals in most markets provide reliable wide-area coverage in most regions of the country. »

- «The sad reality about the AM band is that there are only a few stations in most markets that are truly profitable or that can deliver significant listener support»

- «If it were not for consolidation, many of these stations would have gone dark long ago. Owners keep them alive in hopes HD Radio will increase their value and music formats might again someday be competitive on AM»

fonte: «Let's Save the AM Band», RWOnline, 240505, Guy Wire

Etiquetas: AM, HD

Let's face it, the 'killer ap' for FM radio, 40 years ago, was (what was then known as) Progressive Rock. Programming on FM truly compelled young listeners to demand FM radios in their cars, at home, etc.

Why not give all the HD channels to kids? To people under 30 of every stripe? Imagine if ALL the HD stations in every market were geared to young people. Doubtlessly some outrageously creative programming would come, and the kids would follow.»

fonte: The Infinite Dial, Don't trust programmers over 30, 20/09/06, Larry Rosin

Etiquetas: Jovens, geração, iPod

«During the NAB, iBiquity head Bob Struble reportedly indicated that there are "less than 100,000 HD radio chipsets sold" to date and, as has been much better publicized, 1,000 or so HD stations across the country. Now let's make some assumptions. First let's assume there's one chipset per radio. Since 100,000 is a suspiciously round number, let's assume it's a round-up from 90,000 (likely a bit high). Now let's assume 10,000 of these chipsets are in radios in the hands of broadcast industry professionals (perhaps a bit high). Now let's assume 10,000 of these chipsets are in the manufacturing and distribution pipeline - not yet in radio form (perhaps a bit low). Now let's assume 10,000 of these chipsets are in radios but locked in inventories. That leaves a very, very rough estimate of 60,000 HD radios in the hands of consumers. Or - 60 radios for every HD station on the air.»

Mark Ramsey em Hear2.0, If you build it will they come? 18/10/06

«98 Rock Baltimore has made history as the 1,000th station in the United States to broadcast with digital HD Radio technology. “In just over a year, the number of HD Radio stations on the air has nearly doubled, and we expect to finish 2006 with 1,200 stations,” said Robert Struble, president and CEO of iBiquity Digital Corporation, developers and licensors of HD Radio technology. “Equally exciting is the corresponding growth in HD2 multicasting, which provides listeners with increased content and program choices, and the rapid influx of new HD Radio receivers, that expands the range of product categories and price points. From a consumer standpoint, there has never been a better time to experience HD Radio.”

“Our motivation in upgrading to HD Radio technology was to provide listeners with the best radio experience possible, including CD-like sound quality, crystal-clear reception and innovative multicast programming,” said Ed Kiernan, vice president/general manager WBAL/WIYY Radio. “We are thrilled to have earned the distinction as the 1,000th HD Radio station on the air, and we look forward to using our new digital capabilities to increase the variety of programming and services we offer on free radio.” »

fonte: Radio Ink, HD Radio Breaks 1,000 Station Mark 18/10/06

Robert Struble, president and CEO of Ibiquity Digital, said, "This is a unique opportunity to accelerate consumer adoption of the technology, build listenership and grow stations' ROI." Ibiquity expects to see a proliferation of creative promotions across the country that leverage these products over the next six months. Broadcasters can order new radios at the exclusive, broadcast-promotion prices by visiting www.ibiquity.com. The three products are:

·  A car connect adaptor from Directed Electronics. MSRP is 9.

·  HDT-1 Tuner from Sangean . This is a component receiver for home use. MSRP is 9. Radios will ship from their manufacturers directly to stations with expected delivery at the beginning of December.

Esta lista permite perceber quais são as apostas das rádios EUA no multicasting (os tais nichos mais apertados) e permite também ouvir as que transmitem estes segundos canais de HD em streaming...

No entanto, a lista não condiz com a da iBiquity, a empresa detentora da tecnologia HD:

«Meanwhile, back at Radio & Records, this trade mag brings up a point of contention in its newly-posted "comprehensive HD Radio Station Links page." As of 6/18/06, R&R has 285 HD Radio stations listed which claim to be "on air" with HD signals. But the number of stations there does not jive with what iBiquity Corporation is telling us at its web site - that there are "822 HD Radio stations on the air in the US."

I trust Radio & Records. It would never print a negative story about the radio industry and, therefore, must be telling the truth when it says this is a "comprehensive" list of HD2 stations» (http://www.audiographics.com/agd/061906-1.htm)

WAMU pulled the same stunt a couple of weeks later, silencing its second channel.

Much as I enjoyed my bonus nap time, this kind of thing does not bode well for HD radio's future. If the radio stations offering HD2 broadcasts (all of whom have shelled out some non-trivial cash to do so) can't be bothered to keep them on their air full-time, why should anybody at home bother risking their cash on this technology?

HD radio does have other selling points, but they hardly compete with the dramatic expansion of listening choices that HD2 broadcasts could bring. Digital FM just doesn't sound that much better than analog. Digital AM does, but it's too hard to find and is still limited to daylight hours.»

fonte: «HD Radio Needs Wake-Up Call» 19/6/06, Washington Post

While a number of countries outside of the United States have granted experimental permits for FM HD radio broadcasts, little testing of Ibiquity's AM hybrid technology has been undertaken outside of the Western hemisphere.

The medium-wave HD Radio system was installed for Radio Sangkakala's owner, Pohan E. Harliman in April--15 years after private AM stations in Indonesia migrated to FM, virtually abandoning the medium-wave band. The station, reportedly the first privately owned AM operation to return since the 1991 exodus, purchased the rights to three channels and is operating its carrier in the center of the available bandwidth with an output power of 10kW.

Coverage and reception of the digital signal has been reported as "excellent" by the station's owner/operator.»

fonte: «AM HD Radio on Air in Indonesia», beradio, 21/6/06

«Clear Channel Radio Chicago has announced that Gay Radio has arrived in the Windy City [Chicago]. WKSC-FM’s HD2 Side Channel will be the new home of Pride Radio. The company adds that this move will not affect the current programming on WKSC/Kiss-FM.

“Chicagoland is home to one of America's largest gay populations, and our new Pride Radio channel is designed to be a voice and a source of entertainment for the gay community,” said Darren Davis, Clear Channel RVP of Programming. “The music will be mostly upbeat, dance-oriented, and energetic. It's an idea that's so fabulous; we just had to do it in High Definition on HD Radio.”

fonte: WKSC-FM Chicago’s HD2 Side Channel Is All About Gay Pride, Radio Ink, 19/6/06

A recepção HD vai aparecer como opção nos novos BMW serie 5. É um sinal (a medo, é certo, mas um sinal)

fonte: HD-R Now on BMW 5 Series, 12/6/06,  Radio World

Therefore, 25 percent were familiar enough with HD Radio to have an understanding about it. Additionally, only one percent of 18-64 year-olds surveyed believe that HD Radio will bring more stations and programming options. And three percent believed it is the same as satellite radio»

fonte: «Study: Few Believe HD Radio Brings More Choices», FMQB, 8/6/06, http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=228026

«An Arbitron/Edison Media Research study has found that three-quarters of the “digital radio” audience predict they will continue listening the same amount to AM/FM radio. Seventy-seven percent of respondents said they expect to listen to AM/FM radio as much as they do now despite increasing advancements in technology. The same holds true for Internet radio listeners and those who have tried audio podcasting.

Satellite radio subscribers showed slightly less dedication to traditional broadcasting, with 64% saying they expect to continue listening to the same amount of AM/FM radio.

Additionally, AM/FM radio does not appear to be losing Time Spent Listening to the new digital radio platforms».

fonte: «Most Will Continue Listening To AM/FM Radio», Radio Ink, May 24, 2006

(O estudo é este: http://www.arbitron.com/downloads/im2006study.pdf)

«An Arbitron/Edison Media Research study finds that more than one-third of respondents are interested in HD Radio. When read a description of HD Radio, 8% said they were “very” interested, and another 27% said they were “somewhat” interested.

Thirty-five percent of Americans are willing to pay for an HD Radio. More than one third said they would be likely to purchase a new HD Radio if the cost was . Nine percent of all consumers would be likely to pay 0 or more for an HD Radio receiver; and 5% said they would be likely to purchase at a price of 0.

More than four in ten satellite radio subscribers are either “very” interested or “somewhat” interested in HD Radio. Ten percent of satellite radio subscribers said they were “very” interested in HD Radio, and 33% said they were “somewhat” interested in HD Radio»

fonte: «Interest In Hi Def Radio Exists», RAdio Ink, 24/5/06

Este texto faz um ponto da situação: «Durante quanto tempo a janela de oportunidade se manterá aberta para a rádio IBOC/HD?»

«Silicon Valley has the highest percentage of high-tech gadgetheads in the United States, and they have oodles of disposable income.  But there seems to be absolutely no consumer interest in IBOC/HD radio among those gadgetheads.

The linked article above repeats a common mistake made by IBOC/HD boosters; it assumes the lack of IBOC/HD receivers in retail stores is somehow the fault of the stores. The possibility that IBOC/HD is simply not attractive to consumers, and therefore retailers,  is never considered-----the ramifications of that possibility are just too awful for IBOC/HD supporters to contemplate. 

Even Radio World, long a reliable booster of IBOC/HD, is starting to panic a little bit.  There is a forced attempt to be hip by describing IBOC/HD radio as "the bling of terrestrial radio," but the article once again treats IBOC/HD as a technical issue instead of grasping it is compelling content----or lack of it----that will determine the fate of IBOC/HD.

People are also starting to recognize the interference problems caused by IBOC/HD might be greater than previously supposed; the Corporation for Public broadcasting is seeking participants for a study of IBOC/HD interference (thanks to Glenn Hauser and his World of Radio site for this info).»

fonte: «How Much Longer Will The Window Of Opportunity Be Open For IBOC/HD Radio?», 8/5/06, Harry Helms

Por inicaitiva da Broadcast Electronics: 

fonte: «BE Works on HD Radio Around the World», 1/5/06, http://beradio.com/currents/radio_currents_050106/index.html#be

Pela primeira vez uma rádio nos EUA está emitir em 5.1 Surround, o «formato» sonoro equivalente/idêntico ao Superaudio CD - ou seja, permitindo (com um descodificador) a recepção em cinco colunas.

Jorge Guimarães Silva esclarece, a meu pedido: «Equivale à passagem do Mono para o Estéreo, mas a primeira transmissão em surround 5.1 foi feita pela União Europeia de Radiodifusão (EBU), em 12 de Outubro de 2003, aproveitando o "Dia da Rádio". escrevi um texto sobre isso em 12/10/2003: http://telefonia.weblogger.terra.com.br/200310_telefonia_arquivo.htm»

«Telos Systems and CBS Radio said WZLX(FM), Boston would become the first station in the nation to broadcast all of their format in 5.1 surround sound using the MPEG system on its HD Radio signal. The change is expected to occur within the next 90 to 120 days. The companies hope the move will attract the attention of Boston-based receiver makers such as Boston Acoustics and Bose, as well as other stations, to get them excited about MPEG Surround sound capability, said Steve Church, chief executive officer of Telos Systems and Frank Foti, president of Omnia. "This is going to create a significant boost to radio's aural impact and will be an important motivation for consumers to buy HD Radios," said Church. The station will hold off on promoting the 5.1 surround until there are compatible MPEG Surround receivers in the market, said Church and Foti, who added MPEG has developed a reference design for receiver makers. Other stations are interested in adapting their studios and music formats to surround sound, said Foti, who added the classic rock and classical formats currently have the most music recorded in 5.1 surround. Telos/Omnia is helping WZLX convert its record library to surround and Fraunhofer is providing the MPEG Surround encoder. WZLX is a Classic Rock-formatted station».

fonte: WZLX to Go 5.1 Surround, RWonline, By Leslie Stimson

A partir do momento em que há centenas de rádio a emitir por HD, abrem-se perspectivas de novos negócios para os novos canais de multicasting. E a Clear Channel, como gigante, não perde tempo: acaba de criar uma nova empresa/solução, a que chama Format Lab para vender formatos alternativos... à concorrência que quer ter um segundo ou terceiro canal. «a new service that will make 75 new channels available to rival radio broadcasters for use in digital radio multicasts, station web sites and other outlets.

Format Lab channels include a variety of genres, such as traditional jazz, bluegrass and classical music. Within the rock category, Clear Channel offers such channels as Dank, a combination of hip-hop and rock; Vinyl Vineyard, intended as a throwback to Album Oriented Rock; and The Gig, featuring nothing but cuts from live albums.

Among other formats included at Format Lab are variations on urban, Christian, Spanish, comedy, country, and gay-themed programming.

"As other companies begin to use the HD side channels, they’re going to need programming help of the sort we can provide with Format Lab," said John Hogan, president and chief executive of Clear Channel Radio, in an interview. "So they will be very interested in what we can provide them."

fonte: Radio Ink, Clear Channel Experiments In The “Format Lab”, 24/04/06

Nem por acaso: «The member stations of the HD Digital Radio Alliance are rolling out HD2 channels in an additional 22 markets, bringing the total number of markets in which stations are multicasting their digital signal to 50 markets. This is the second wave of multicast formats to be announced; the first 25 markets were unveiled earlier this year. HD2 multicasts will now be available in 50 markets (including 42 of the top 50) -- more than six months ahead of schedule, says the alliance. The number of new radio stations created under the initiative now tops 450»

The broadcaster is airing a compilation of automotive news and entertainment programming including the latest from the Manhattan Auto Show now through April 16.

"Auto Scoop New York" airs on the HD2 channel for WCBS(FM) and will also be streamed live at www.cbsradio.com on those days. New car designs and debuts and concept cars will be covered; the show will include interviews and commentary from automobile manufactures and local dealerships.

Auto Scoop normally airs on various CBS Radio stations Saturday mornings and focuses on the car buying and leasing process»

fonte: «CBS Will Use Multicast for a Special Car Event», RWonline, 12/4/06

fonte: «Broadcast Electronics Introduces HD Radio to France », Radio Magazine, 3 a 9 de abril,.

Mais: «Could France give up on Eureka-147?»

Talvez o facto da transmissão em HD exigir novos receptores, desses receptores serem raros e caros, seja o seu maior problema na actualidade.

Este desenvolvimento acaba por ser relevante: «retailers are now jumping on board. Early this morning, retailers Tweeter, Crutchfield and ABC Warehouse Detroit announced that they would be selling a crop of HD-compatible receivers. Starting today, the receivers will be available in more than 100 stores in over 30 markets across the United States. "Consumer demand for HD digital radio receivers has increased significantly over the past few months as consumers see the incredible value that HD radio offers," said Peter Ferrara, president and CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance».

fonte: «Radio Conglomerates Push HD, Retailers Offer More Support», Digital Music News, 10/4/06

Mais um texto entusiasmado com o HD, agora no Detroit News.

O Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) acaba de lançar uma nova versão do «White Paper» sobre o HD. Um documento muito interessante, até pela simplicidade, mas com muita informação.

Destaques:

«HD Radio has propelled the medium into the digital space, and marks the most significant advancement in radio broadcasting since the introduction of FM stereo more than 50 years ago»

Porquê: «HD Radio has provided expanded programming choices, radically improved audio quality, and new wireless data and text services. Its anticipated impact on consumers is so significant that HD Radio received top honors with CNET’s “Next Big Thing” Award at the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show. Signal fading, static, hisses, and pops are a thing of the past as HD Radio delivers FM quality sound on AM and CD quality sound on FM. Real-time text messages including song title and artist, weather, news, and traffic alerts, and local information for nationally advertised brands are revolutionizing the way consumers experience AM and FM radio. Surround sound, a “buy” button, and traffic data overlaid on in-car navigational systems are on the way. And, as always, it’s FREE»

Sobre o multicasting: «Alliance member stations are coordinating the formats on the new HD2 multicast channels to ensure a variety of program choices within the HD2 multicast markets. More information is available at www.hdradio.com. To date, 3,000 U.S. radio stations covering all major markets and reaching 90% of Americans, have committed to upgrading their stations. Over 700 stations are already broadcasting their primary signal in HD Radio including stations in all top 50 markets. Over 150 stations are currently multicasting an HD2 channel with over 250 HD2 stations expected on the air in the coming months. A few stations are experimenting with HD3 multicasts».

A recepção: «Boston Acoustics’ Receptor HD tabletop radio is widely available, as is Yamaha’s home component receiver. High-end home component units are on the way from Audio Design Associates, Day Sequerra, and Rotel. Polk is scheduled to launch a tabletop radio in April.  After-market auto receivers from Alpine, Kenwood, JVC, Eclipse, Sanyo, and Panasonic are selling in retail stores across the country. New automotive aftermarket technology will debut in 2006 allowing consumers to easily convert their existing analog car radios to receive digital HD Radio signals. BMW is the first car manufacturer to offer HDRadio receivers as a factory installed option in its 2006 “6” and “7” Series models.»

Está tudo aqui (http://www.rab.com/secure/white_papers/HDRADIOWhitePaper.pdf)

«The radio research firm projects in its latest report that HD receivers will be in the hands of 1.06 million consumers by the end of 2007, 2.0 million by the end of 2008 and 8.84 million by the end of 2010. Meanwhile, Bridge predicts that XM Satellite Radio will grow to 9.0 million subscribers by the end of 2006 as rival Sirius grows to about 6 million subscribers over the same period. The study comes as part of Bridge’s ongoing review and analysis of audience attrition of traditional radio and subscriber and user growth of alternative digital media.»

Fonte: «Bridge Ratings: HD Radio To Reach 1 Million By End Of ’07», 14/3/06, Brida Connolly, R&R

AM interference from digital radio is in the Wall Street Journal. The paper reports that some AMs that have elected to remain analog are experiencing adjacent-channel interference from neighboring AMs that have gone digital.

Anecdotally, reports of such interference on AM from new digital signals have been circulating in the industry for some time and we've reported on those.

The WSJ article cites a listener in Elkridge, Md., who has had trouble tuning into WTRI(AM), 1520 kHz, since WTOP, at 1500 kHz in Washington, went HD Radio about a year ago.

In most cases, the interference is confined outside the FCC-protected coverage area, the account reports, agreeing with NRSC sources, quoted here in the past, who have tested the Ibiquity system. They and the FCC have known there would be some interference caused by IBOC and have maintained the levels would be acceptable.

FCC Audio Division Chief Peter Doyle is quoted by the Journal as explaining that broadcasters chose to go digital with Ibiquity's technology because it doesn't require new spectrum and that the advantages more than outweigh the shortcomings. Adding digital service is one way to combat the problem, although some small stations can't afford the cost. »

(fonte: «WSJ Reports on AM IBOC Interference», Date posted: 2006-03-02)

«The advertising push comes against heavy satellite radio momentum, which is being powered by targeted genre channels and personalities like Howard Stern. That variety is being embraced by those that feel alienated by traditional radio, especially after a wave of ownership consolidation. As mom-and-pop radio stations were bought out by giants like Clear Channel, content variety gave way to tight playlists and a general sameness amongst stations. HD attempts to solve this dilemma through HD2 multicasting, which gives stations the ability to broadcast multiple channels on the same bandwidth allotted for their analog signals. That offers increased choices for listeners, without the need to pay .95 a month to get it. There are already 264 HD2 channels available nationwide, and initially they will all be commercial free». (Rich Menta, Digital Radio Consortium Kicks Off 0 Million Ad Campaign, Digital Music News, 21/2/06)

«While the story on digital (HD) radio is still early, more and more terrestrial stations are upgrading their broadcasts. Just recently, HD radio technology provider iBiquity Digital counted its 700th compliant station, part of an early swell in the United States. "As a result of broadcasters converting stations at a pace of more than one per day, 6 in 10 Americans now have access to HD Radio broadcasts," commented Robert Struble, president and CEO of iBiquity. The updated tally includes stations across the AM and FM band, many of which have "multicasting," or "HD2" capabilities. iBiquity is the sole licensor of HD radio technology in the United States.» fonte: "Terrestrial Radio Industry Counts 700th HD Broadcaster"

Uma explicação para o (aparente) sucesso: «certainly the promise of new content moved the business news needle in a way that the promise of digital sound never did. That's also because the concept is easy for consumers and analysts to understand. "You can get new program channels in addition to your old ones, and all you need is to buy a new radio." Nothing particularly complicated about that».

O sistema de emissão dupla, sem ser em simulcasting, com programações distintas, que o HD está a explorar, teve neste relato de 1995 de Ricardo Haye, o seu antecedente (aqui através de uma onda subportadora, no HD numa emissão digital):

"Esta alternativa [doble emisión a travésde un mismo canal] la vimos aplicada con gran utilidad en una pequena emisora integrante del sistema público estadounidense en la ciudad de Phoenix, Arizona. La señal principal está íntegramente dedicada a la difusión de noticias y música de jazz. Una subportadora fue cedida a una institución de ciegos que la utiliza para brindar servicios al público no vidente. Son audiciones de lectura de diarios, libros, comentarios, entrevistas, dirigidas a un público específico. La institución posee sus propios estudios y emplea invidentes para muchas tareas, entre ellas las de operador de control. Complementariarnente, entrega en forma gratuita a quienes lo soliciten un receptor de sintonía fija, única forma de acceder a esta propuesta".

Haye, Ricardo, Hacia una nueva radio, Paidós, Buenos Aires, 1995, pág. 46 

"The HD2 rollouts will cover the top 28 markets in the United States, which include mega-cities New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco, as well as smaller markets like Albuquerque, Dayton, Tulsa, and Wichita. The rollouts will include 250 new channels, many of which will begin airing “within a few days”. The rollout will bring the total number of HD2 stations to 264. "Listeners will now have even more local choices of new and diverse programming," said Peter Ferrara, president and CEO of the HD Digital Radio Alliance. "I think a lot of people are going to want an HD Radio for their car, home and office."

High-definition (HD) radio, often simply referred to as "digital radio," offers a higher-fidelity, digital upgrade over analog transmissions. Part of that upgrade includes the ability to multicast different programs over a single channel. One station, for example, could offer a flagship "HD1" channel, and a more specialized "HD2" station that delivers more niche content"

Fonte: "Terrestrial Conglomerates Push HD2 Digital Radio Rollouts" Digital Music News

ACT a 20/1:"The Wall Street Journal reports that America's biggest radio companies have started multicasting two or three stations onto FM frequencies that previously just carried one. For listeners, it means dozens of new channels are coming onto the air.

Clear Channel, CBS Radio and other broadcasters are starting to spell out what formats they will use for the new stations that will be created to take advantage of the emerging digital technology. Clear Channel has begun multicasting 10 new stations in New York and San Francisco, with more debuting in the next few days and an even bigger push to follow. CBS Radio is in the process of unveiling new multicast stations in several cities. In all, more than 250 multicast digital stations will soon be available in 28 large markets, including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

The radio companies hope the extra programming, which will largely be commercial-free, will lure back consumers who were considering subscribing to satellite radio.

A spokesman for XM Satellite Radio was dismissive of the new approach, saying, "While satellite radio continues its record growth as the radio service of the future, we just see more circling wagons from a traditional radio industry that has clearly lost touch with its audience."

The take at Sirius, meanwhile, is: "We wish them luck. We have more than 125 channels of great programming, and we think that what is good for radio will be very good for us."

fonte: "Terrestrial Radio Gets "Serious" About HD"

Nesta notícia da Radio Ink "Twenty-five Clear Channel Radio stations in five markets are now in the process of turning on their HD2 multicast digital radio channels. Within two weeks, another 82 stations in 20 more markets will begin HD2 multicasts" está uma lista de canais suplementares. Mas todos os principais grupos fizeram o mesmo, além da Clear Channel

Porque só existe nos EUA, porque é uma realidade completamente nova, porque ler é uma coisa, ouvir, outra, tenho tido muita curiosidade em perceber como funcionam os canais de audio oferecidos pela tecnologia digital (HD).

Na Forbes desta semana um artigo faz vários relatos interessantes. Entre eles, este:

"Local broadcasters can deliver up to three program feeds that, depending on how they divvy up the bandwidth, can sound like decent MP3s or pretty good phone calls. The first channel usually duplicates the conventional analog station. Others, when they exist, differ wildly.

In Seattle, where I test this stuff, public radio station KUOW's second digital channel (also available on the Web) shifts some of its regular programming to different hours and adds extra shows. A third channel delivers the BBC World Service, heavily compressed to conserve bandwidth, but listenable.

On the commercial side of the dial, two Seattle FM stations use secondary HD channels to simulcast sister AM talk stations--with wildly better audio. A third station's main HD channel puts country song titles and artists on the radio's screen and displays weather forecasts during ads; the secondary channel offers commercial-free "classic country." And when I tuned to the secondary channel of an in-your-face rap station during the holidays, I stumbled upon a surprisingly low-key commercial-free mix of hip Christmas music. "

fonte: "Radio Goes HD", Forbes
Stephen Manes, 01.09.06, 12:00 AM ET

"There are more than 600 AM and FM stations broadcasting digital HD Radio signals today, and we expect that number to double next year," predicted Robert Struble, president and CEO of iBiquity Digital Corporation, which is powering the technology behind the digital radio upgrade. "We look forward to 2006 as the year HD Radio reaches the mainstream consumer, and all of the new products and features to help us achieve this goal will be on display at CES." The move follows the formation of the HD Digital Radio Alliance, which includes some heavy-hitting terrestrial radio broadcasters."

informação retirada desta notícia: "Digital Radio Consortium Prepares Blitz at CES" (Digital Music News, 4/1/06)

"if a listener wants to listen to one of the new HD channels, he must first tune to a station that he does not want to listen to, before he gets to the station that he does. If that happens, the new formats on new channels of (each main frequency), become permanently associated (in the listeners’ minds) with the format of the main channel. Another negative is that the additional HD channels will seem to not be on the air if a person attempts to tune directly to them, without first going to the analog / digital main frequency. DOES THIS LAYERED SYSTEM MAKE ANY SENSE?"

O que é que isto provocou? "HD radio is at our doorstep and IT IS TEN YEARS LATE. Why? Because our “Leaders” fought needlessly over engineering standards. We COULD have been first to digital radio, but weren’t. The result: A huge opening for satellite radio, based on digital quality and new channels that you’d never hear on terrestrial radio. "

Russ "Oasis Delivers Open Letter to the Industry"
 

A partir deste texto "HD Radio: Could it Ever Supplant FM?" (de Anders Madsen, 01.04.06, rwonline.com), e destas interrogações "Will HD Radio someday overtake analog FM in the United States? If so, how long until most commercial FM broadcast is at least accompanied by an IBOC modulated signal? Will stations ever really start turning off their analog entirely, as originally envisioned under the "hybrid" approach to a digital radio transition?", alguns destaques:

- O PREÇO DOS RECEPTORES: "Tim Eby, manager of Ohio State University station WOSU(FM), agrees. "Nobody’s going to run out and buy a radio if it costs 0." For him, 0 is the target price point required for mass appeal." [a própósito: HD tuner for 0)

- O RISCO DE INVESTIMENTO DOS PROPRIETÁRIOS: "According to Bob Struble, president and CEO of the company, some owners are pursuing aggressive installation and implementation, others are waiting to see what happens. But he is certain HD Radio will someday replace analog FM broadcast in the United States."

- A MANUTENÇÃO DO FM (até porque existem 800 milhões de rádios analógicos nos EUA, com a respectiva inércia): ""One of the great things about HD is that it operates in tandem with analog, so that if you have an HD radio, it also picks up analog stations. There won’t be a cutoff point, (as if) that’s the end of this, and we’re starting something new ... It’s a planned transition. We’re not taking any analog stations off the air ... what we’re doing is putting HD transmitters right next to the analog transmitters." 

- A VENDA DE EMISSORES: "Matthew Straeb, director of business development for Continental Electronics, said, "We’re selling a lot more HD transmitters than we are analog"."

A COBERTURA NACIONAL DIGITAL: "Will HD Radio signals ever be everywhere in the U.S.? "Not in my lifetime," Jensen said."

Aqui conta-se a experiência da "Gretchen 99.9", uma rádio lançada de acordo com a tecnologia HD pela rádio hertziana Kiss Country, em Miami.

A Gretchen 99.9 é um canal digital nascido da possibilidade que a HD gera de criar canais paralelos (dedicado ao cantor de country Gretchen Wilson).

A questão das audiências é fundamental: além de haver poucos rádios preparados para ouvir (também) estes canais digitais, diz Harry Helms, muitos ouvintes sintonizam a Kiss Country na internet, não em rádios HD; quem ouve? 

A propósito dos novos canais criados pelo HD: "A new study conducted by some radio analysts says consumers prefer to have the 'extended band' of radio, instead of a 'layered approach.'"

"My immediate first impression is that satellite radio broadcasters better start worrying", diz Gary Krakow, que esteve nos ultimos dias a testar o primeiro receptor de HD, o Boston Acoustics’ Recepter Radio HD. As impressões foram boas. A ponto de Krakow dizer que "Howard Stern might be leaving terrestrial radio at the wrong time. With the release of the first real digital AM/FM radio receiver, satellite radio may have some real competition to worry about."

in Digital AM/FM challenges satellite radio, MSNBC, Updated: 8:41 a.m. ET Dec. 16, 2005

Resultado de seis "focus groups" conduzidos pela empresa de pesquisa Jacobs Media com jovens dos 18 aos 34 anos:

"Even in Detroit, awareness of HD Radio was “vague,” said Jacobs. “Some people associate it with HDTV.” He also noted confusion with RDS, noting that some people think they have HD Radio when they see an RDS text display on their radio. "

"Is radio losing its portability among youth?; HD-R awareness «vague»" 2005-12-08,

Sete dos principais operadores de rádio terrestre nos EUA associaram-se para dar força ao HD.

Entre os seus objectivos estão: "coordination of formats on new multicast channels known as HD2. The bloc will also push to secure coveted dashboard positioning among top automotive retailers, and work closely with receiver manufacturers to increase marketing on new product releases. To the end, the group pledged to commit 0 million in HD-specific advertising on their stations. The group estimates that over 600 stations are delivering their primary programming signal in digital quality. The announcement is happening against a backdrop of steadily increasing satellite radio subscriptions, which are now closing in on 9 million."

Acrescento isto, que me parece importante:

Um dos grandes problemas para o desenvolvimento do HD, como se pode ler por estes textos, é a substituição dos actuais rádios. Pois acaba de ser anunciado um dispositivo que permite utilizar os actuais rádios. «“We are pleased to offer solutions that allow customers to receive and listen to digital AM/FM signals without having to replace their factory radios. Customers can now enjoy true CD-quality digital broadcasts with their existing vehicles’ audio systems," Dice VP of sales Jim Lucas said in a statement.»
 

E isto: "A Clear Channel Communications, maior rede de rádio norte-americana, anunciou no mês passado que 95 por cento de suas 1,2 mil estações estarão transmitindo conteúdo digital em 2007. Se a iniciativa tiver sucesso, a empresa poderá oferecer programação gratuita capaz de rivalizar com a das rádios via satélite. "Por que pagar por alguma coisa que se recebe de graça?", pergunta John Hogan, presidente-executivo das divisões de rádio da Clear Channel, ecoando um lema do setor de rádio norte-americano."

A oposição vem da indústria discográfica dos EUA, acossada por vários lados. "In other words, instead of simply marking broadcast content for downstream protection as the flag system does, RIAA suggested that all IBOC broadcasts (or at least those that include copyrighted music) be mandated to include full-time encryption of the digital broadcast signal, and that these signals only be entitled for legitimate decryption under circumstances of which the RIAA approved."

só no universo do grupo Clear Channel. "The company says it is on track to air HD digital radio broadcasts on 95% of its stations in the top 100 markets by the end of 2007".

(HD digital radio upgrades AM and FM radio stations by adding a digital signal to the existing analog signal. The result allows AM radio to sound like FM, and FM radio to sound CD-quality. To enjoy these benefits plus additional programs that can be broadcast through a single station via multicasting, the listener must purchase a HD radio receiver)

A rádio de serviço público nos EUA tem características muito diferentes da europeia, nomeadamente da BBC – que funciona, no velho continente, como paradigma.

Não havendo rádios nacionais nos EUA, mas apenas estações associadas que podem “sindicar” algum programa, a NPR (o sistema de rádio de serviço público nos Estados Unidos, maioritariamente financiado pelos ouvintes, privado portanto, e sem lucros) possui em muitos dos principais mercados apenas uma rádio – que assim tem de se comportar em absoluto como generalista (ou seja, chegando a vários públicos ao longo de um mesmo dia ou semana).

O aparecimento de uma tecnologia que permite a criação, a partir da emissão original em FM ou AM, de novos canais digitais foi imediatamente apreendida pela NPR como algo muito importante.

No início de 2003 a NPR anunciou a sua adesão projecto de HD da iBiquity (antes designado IBOC, In-Band on Channel), criando o “Tomorrow Radio Project”.

2003 foi o ano dos primeiros testes do sistema multicanal (ou tecnologia “second audio”), que permite transmitir mais programação e conteúdos escritos a partir do actual espectro (essa tecnologia cria um sinal digital paralelo ao sinal analógico que as rádios hertzianas emitem), com qualidade muito próxima do actual CD, sem ser afectado pelas condições atmosféricas.

A NPR conseguiu a adesão, para este projecto, de empresas importantes, como a Kenwood, que fabricou receptores prontos a receber os novos canais digitais (com informações de trânsito, boletins de tempo ou cotações de bolsa, em texto, por exemplo, como a rádio por satélite). A HD exige novos receptores.

Nessa altura haverá milhares de estações de rádio nos EUA a emitir com HD e, para as mais de 700 estações de serviço público, será possível apresentar diversos formatos simultaneamente.

A NPR anunciou também um horizonte temporal de 10 anos para tornar todas as estações NPR a funcionar em HD, e esse é um prazo que cada empresa ou grupo de rádios terá de tomar por si próprio, uma vez que a autoridade federal das comunicações não definiu – nem definirá, pelo que se percebe – uma data para o switch off completo (ao contrário da TV), o que significa que nos próximos anos as rádios poderão continuar a utilizar as frequências analógicas actuais.

Uma citação do documento “NPR’s Tomorrow Radio Project”, 10/02/04, por Ralph Graves:

“Os operadores comerciais vêem a qualidade de som da rádio digital e as características da PAD [«Program Associated Data», informações em texto] como uma forma de competir com a rádio por satélite. A NPR vê uma coisa diferente: como uma aplicação possível pra resolver um dos problemas mais insistentes da rádio pública. A emissão de rádio pública, globalmente, junta diversos e diferentes formatos (…). Cada género tem a sua audiência leal e em alguns casos com pouca sobreposição. Quando a sua rádio pública muda da “Morning Edition” para os “Midday Classics”, por exemplo, a audiência de notícias desliga e o público interessado em música clássica liga. As estações lutam por servir uma audiência diversa com apenas um sinal (…). Tomorrow Radio Project explorou a possibilidade de subdividir o sinal digital de 96kbps da IBOC em dois ou mais sinais viáveis de som, dando às estações a oportunidade de difundir diferentes formatos simultaneamente.

(…) De acordo com Mike Starling, vice-presidente da NPR para a área de engenharia e operações, nove dos 25 principais mercados de rádio nos EUA têm apenas uma estação afiliada na NPR. Muitos mercados pequenos são servidos apenas por uma rádio pública. Estas estações têm dificuldade em combinar os formatos que pretendem transmitir – sabendo que cada formato apenas serve uma fracção da sua potencial audiência total. Em muitos casos, não t~em horas suficientes para garantir adequadamente todos os tipos de programação que a sua audiência deseja. E uma vez que uma parte essencial do financiamento da rádio pública vem das contribuições dos ouvintes…”.

"That is a sizeable increase over the current footprint of 65 stations, and is part of an accelerated deployment for the radio conglomerate. According to Jeff Littlejohn, executive vice president of distribution development at Clear Channel Radio, the deployment means a "higher-quality listening experience," in addition to "data services and multicasted programming". Other conglomerates are also pushing HD deployments, including Cox Communications and Infinity Broadcasting."

via Digital Music News ("Clear Channel Radio Readies 200 Digital Radio Stations")

- Transmite um sinal digital a partir de uma emissão analógica (FM ou AM);

- os receptores digitais são caros e raros e ainda não começou a troca nem a massificação por parte dos fabricantes (com a subsidiação de terminais?); muitas rádios esperam pela reconversão do lado dos ouvintes; outras já perceberam que se não derem o primeiro passo o processo não avança

- Criado pela iBiquity Corp. (uma entrevista ao presidente da empresa, Robert Struble, aqui);

- grande vantagem, para além da qualidade do som: o multicasting de conteúdos diferentes, a partir da emissão hertziana (dois ou mais canais); por exemplo: num canal tem a emissão normal, noutro apenas trânsito;
Sobre o multicasting...

National Association of Broadcasters Radio Show– September 21, 2005 – There are now over 500 AM and FM stations across the country broadcasting with HD Radio technology. Stations serving every one of the top 50 U.S. markets are now providing listeners with digital HD Radio coverage, including: Detroit (21 stations on the air), Los Angeles (19), Chicago (19), Atlanta
(18), Miami (16), Boston (15), San Francisco (15), and New York City (14).

Responding to the rising demand for more music, news and information, radio broadcasters have also embraced HD Radio multicasting capabilities as a way to offer consumers new channels of unique programming on the same station frequency.
Several of the largest U.S. radio broadcasters have already launched multicast channels featuring brand extensions and diverse formats such as classical music, dance music, and local music. Many more stations are expected to include multicast channels in the coming months as this trend generates great interest and enthusiasm from both broadcasters and consumers.

"This has been a breakthrough year in the rollout of HD Radio technology. Broadcasters are converting stations at a pace of more than one per day as they
ramp up efforts to market and promote the technology to consumers," said Robert Struble, president and CEO of iBiquity Digital Corporation. "And the emergence of multicasting as the system's first killer application has been critically important.
There are now stations from Philadelphia to Seattle broadcasting additional streams of content to complement the programming on their main channels."

(via Obercom)

Where Are The HD Radios?
Sep. 23, 2005
By Paul Heine
PHILADELPHIA -- If a 5.1 surround-sound tree falls in a digital forest, does anyone hear it?
iBiquity director of broadcast marketing Don Kelly offered an update on the most important question in the digital radio discussion taking place at the National Assn. of Broadcasters Radio Show here: Where are the radios?
Five different after-market car stereo HD receivers are currently available from a variety of manufacturers, he said, including JVC, Panasonic and Kenwood. A Boston Acoustics tabletop HD radio is expected in late October or early November.
Radiosophy will deliver portable receivers later this year and high-end units from Polk Audio will be available early next year. Kelly says at least another 15-17 manufacturers will have product coming to market.
“There will be hundreds of thousands of [HD] receivers in listeners hands in 2006,” Kelly said. 2500-3000 stations will beam digital signals within the next 18-24 months, covering 95% of the U.S. population, he added.
Noting that it took FM about seven years to achieve parity with AM, Kelly said the HD radio tipping point will occur sooner, because technology moves faster today than it did in the ‘70s.

Etiquetas: multicast, HD-2